'Didn't play badly' - Former Real Madrid midfielder explains why Super Eagles drew with Zimbabwe

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, shared his thoughts on the Super Eagles' recent 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, explaining where Nigeria went wrong in the match.

 The result, he believes, has made their path to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup even more difficult.

Speaking exclusively to Flashscore.com, Adepoju explained the setback the Super Eagles faced after the draw. 

"Before the game against Zimbabwe, I said Nigeria might qualify for the World Cup, but it would be tough. Now, it is even tougher," he stated, emphasizing the growing challenges Nigeria faces in securing a spot in the global tournament.

The Super Eagles were coming off a strong 2-0 victory over Rwanda, and Adepoju admitted that the team was on the right track. 

"We were on the right track after our win in Rwanda, but our result against Zimbabwe set us back," Adepoju said. 

"If we had won, we would have had nine points, but now we have only five."

Despite the disappointing result, Adepoju was quick to defend the players, saying they did not perform badly. 

"The boys didn’t play badly, but poor game management at the end cost us the result," he said. 

However, he pointed out that the Super Eagles lacked the necessary aggression in the latter stages of the match, which allowed Zimbabwe to gain momentum.

"I expected them to be more aggressive when Zimbabwe looked like they might take the lead and not let them reach our area. That could have stopped their momentum in the final moments," Adepoju explained. 

His comments highlight the need for greater control and composure during crucial moments in matches, particularly when defending a slim lead.

The draw leaves the Super Eagles with an uphill battle in their World Cup qualifying campaign. 

While there is still hope, the lack of a decisive win against Zimbabwe has raised concerns about their ability to manage games under pressure.

Wale Adejumo

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